Bringing discarded electronics to recycling or take-back centers is a noble action, but it’s important for consumers to only choose reliable programs. A report found that a substantial amount of America’s “recycled” electronics were actually shipped to developing nations like China, India and Africa. Workers at these locations who are often women and children, disassemble products with their bare hands, exposing themselves to a host of toxins. Plus, electronics sometimes wind up sitting around in unlined pits, where chemicals can leech into soil and groundwater, poisoning the surrounding areas.
Bringing discarded electronics to recycling or take-back centers is a noble action, but it’s important for consumers to only choose reliable programs. A report found that a substantial amount of America’s “recycled” electronics were actually shipped to developing nations like China, India and Africa. Workers at these locations who are often women and children, disassemble products with their bare hands, exposing themselves to a host of toxins. Plus, electronics sometimes wind up sitting around in unlined pits, where chemicals can leech into soil and groundwater, poisoning the surrounding areas.